Method and System for Implementing Charging Communication Services

Abstract

A method for implementing charging communication services is provided, wherein, the charging system includes a charging module and an expression analyzer; the charging module first determines a plurality of basic expression factors, and a user configures expressions based on the expression factors; the charging module reads a communication record, obtains the values of the expression factors by analyzing the communication record, and transmits the values of the expression factors to the expression analyzer; the expression analyzer performs the expression operation assigned with the expression factor values and finally returns the operation result to a charging module; and the charging module searches the corresponding charging rate according to the operation result and calculate the fee. This invention makes the configuration of charging rules more flexible and convenient, raising the development possibility of programs, providing quick support for new service demands, unifying the charging policy description, and simplifying the maintenance work.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a method and system for implementing charging communication services. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Along with the launching of new services of the 3rd generation digital communications (3G) and the next generation network (NGN), there are great changes in the charging technology of these services, and for a charging system, it is an important issue to find solutions for rapidly supporting the expansion of new services. [0003] Changes in charging services are mainly caused by the alternation of communication scenes. In traditional charging systems, a communication scene's matching logic is usually fixed in charging system's programs, and a new communication scene's matching logic cannot be supported flexibly. In traditional charging methods, according to some critical factors in communication records (e.g., the calling number, called number, and etc.), the communica...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0031] As an approach of analyzing expressions is employed, and expressions are configured during the operation of the charging system, it is easy for a user (a maintenance personnel of the charging system) to modify an expression to describe any communication scene such that new demands of charging services could be supported flexibly, which improves the expansibility of the charging system's programs.

[0032] Charging policies are described in a uniform way, which improves the expansibility of the program and simplifies the maintenance.

[0033] In this invention, expressions comply with a specific syntax rule, and the expression factors provided are configured in advance, so a certain rule can be used in expression configuration by end users. A user has to get an expression according to the combination of the expression factors and operators given by the system. In this way, the description of charging policies is unified. For example, suppose that the charging system provides two factors, VISIT_CODE and OTHER_VISIT_CODE, the maintenance personnel can only describe a local communication with these two factors. The configuration of an expression is like a procedure of a compiler for C language, as there is a unified rule, any expression's meaning can be learned by users, and the given factors are also used to provide new service's supports, simplifying the system maintenance and enhancing the expansibility of the charging system.

Problems solved by technology

Along with the launching of new services of the 3rd generation digital communications (3G) and the next generation network (NGN), there are great changes in the charging technology of these services, and for a charging system, it is an important issue to find solutions for rapidly supporting the expansion of new services.

In traditional charging systems, a communication scene's matching logic is usually fixed in charging system's programs, and a new communication scene's matching logic cannot be supported flexibly.

The drawbacks of the traditional charging methods are as follows: usually, the matching logic of the critical factors for the charging of one service is different from that of the charging of another service.

To support new services' charging rule or charging method, the programs have to be modified, which increases the development costs and delays the introduction of new products.

Moreover, the traditional charging methods cannot be extended flexibly, and the program has to be modified to meet even some minor demands of users, which will interrupt the online system, affect the normal operation of the system, and easily cause failures.

Images